“IT WAS a bit of a pot-luck affair,” reflects trumpeter Mandla Mlangeni about the recording of Bhekisizwe, the debut album of his outfit the Amandla Freedom Ensemble, which landed late last year. “Somehow, all the stars just aligned.”He’s not just talking about the generous way industry colleagues found short-notice studio time and supplemented instrumental resources, but also the lucky coincidence that united many of his regular SA bandmates for the show Song of Nongoma at the Soweto Theatre, at the same time as visiting saxophonists Briton Shabaka Hutchings and Swiss Ganesh Geymeier were also in town. Mlangeni had already decided he wanted to record, but he credits Hutchings with pushing him to take advantage of the powerful ensemble that was possible at that point.The album’s title and its elegiac first track pay homage to the history that shaped Mlangeni and his music. His father was the lawyer and hit-squad investigator Bheki Mlangeni, assassinated by a booby-trapped tape recor...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.